Side rail for vehicle frames



July 4, 1939. D. w. SHERMAN SIDE RAIL FOR VEHICLE FRAMES Filed Nov. 30, 1936 I k\`\\\\\ l TIL PRIOR PRACTICE muffa@ Donald WSI'zerman INVENTOR. BY @M MW ATTORNEY.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIDE RAIL FOR VEHICLE FRAMES Application November 30, 1936, Serial No. 113,341

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a side rail for vehicle frames. The invention has been applied to the reenforcing of the rear kick-up of the conventional sheet metal channel side rail.

The object of the invention is to increase the strength of the side rail at the rear kick-up, for the purpose of resisting vertical loads.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawing in lo which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the rear kickup of a side rail;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a, similar section showing conventional construction prior to the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a frame embodying the invention.

The side rails of automobile frames are con- 20 structed of sheet metal bent into channel shape and having a portion curved upwardly at or near the location of the rear axle. This curved portion is known as the rear kick-up and is usually of shallow vertical web in order to provide the necessary clearances.

Referring to the drawing, the channel side rail I is formed with a rear kick-up 2. The vertical web 3 of the side rail is of Varying depth throughout its length, and is generally shallow 30 in the portion of the rear kick-up. This means that in forming the channel side rail, the sheet metal stock employed was trimmed to a narrower blank in the regon of the rear kick-up than in regions forward thereof. 'I'his is particularly d true with the former conventional type of rear kick-up illustrated in Fig. 3. To compensate for the shallow side rail at the kick-up, as illustrated in Fig. 3, it was the practice to place a reenforcing channel 4 over the open side of the channel I and rivet it to the upper and lower flanges 5 and 6 of the channel, thereby forming a box-like structure.

'Ihe present invention utilizes more of the original stock at the rear kick-up and provides a reenforced structure having greater strength as to vertical loads. Referring to Figs. l and 2, the main body of the side rail is formed as a channel I with a vertical web 3, as before, but the web 3 is bent inwardly in its central portion 1 at the rear kick-up, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby utilizing more of the stock than heretofore. The reenforcing channel 8 is reversed in direction and inserted with its vertical web 9 riveted to the vertical web portion 'l of channel I by rivets lil. The upper and lower anges Il and l2 of channel B extend outwardly adjacent the respective flanges 5 and 6 of channel I and are riveted thereto by rivets I3.

Fig. 4 shows an assembled frame in which two side rails l are connected by suitable cross bars I4. The rear kick-up 2 in each side rail embodies the present invention.

The invention may have various embodiments within the spirit and scope of the claims.

I claim: i

1. In an automobile frame, a side rail having a rear kick-up formed of two channel shaped members nested together and having their respective corresponding flanges secured together and having the web of the outer member bent inwardly to engage the web of the inner member, and means connecting said webs together.

2. In an automobile frame, a side rail having a rear kick-up formed of two channel shaped members nested together with their respective corresponding flanges secured together and having a space between the planes of their webs, the web of the outer member being formed inwardly to engage the web of the inner member approximately mid-way between the flanges, and means connecting said webs together.

DONALD W. SHERMAN. 

